Universal Looks to TV for New Fifty Shades of Grey Lead

One takeaway from Charlie Hunnam quitting the big screen adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey is that Universal seems intent on casting a TV actor, like Sons of Anarchy's Hunnam, as the male lead Christian Grey.

THR has the purported lowdown on the behind-the-scenes drama that preceded Hunnam's abrupt departure last weekend from Universal's steamy movie. Turns out Hunnam, who also writes, was clashing with the creative powers-that-be, including director Sam Taylor-Johnson, over the script. Hunnam reportedly submitted very detailed script notes to Universal, which were well received but the studio balked when the Pacific Rim star sought further script approval.

Now that Hunnam -- whom THR claims was to have been paid a mere $125,000 for a movie expected to do big box office -- is out, the trade says Universal and the filmmakers are said to be considering Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood), Jamie Dornan (The Fall), and Christian Cooke (Magic City) for the role of Christian Grey.

Another TV star who has reportedly emerged as a contender, according to Just Jared, is Francois Arnaud, best known for playing Cesare Borgia on The Borgias.

Francois Arnaud taking care of business. Like a Borgia.

Actress Dakota Johnson, set to play the female lead of Anastasia Steele, also hails from TV having starred on Ben and Kate.